Chapter 15: Gender and Sexuality

1. Chapter 15: Gender and Sexuality

2. Defining Some Terms • Sex: Whether you are biologically male or female • Gender: All the psychological and social characteristics associated with being male or female; defined by one’s gender identity and learnedgender roles

3. Some More Terms • Primary Sexual Characteristics: Sexual and reproductive organs • Secondary Sexual Characteristics: Features other than sexual and reproductive organs (breasts, facial hair, etc.) that appear at puberty • Menarche: Onset of menstruation; a woman’s first menstrual period

4. Even More Terms to Know • Ovulation: Release of ova (eggs) from the ovaries • Menopause: End of monthly menstrual cycles; usually occurs in the late 40’s or early 50’s • Gonads: Sex glands; testes in males and ovaries in females • Estrogens: Female Hormones • Androgens: Male hormones • Testosterone: Male sex hormone (androgen) secreted mainly by the testes

5. Dimensions of Sex • Genetic Sex: XX or XY chromosomes • Gonadal Sex: Ovaries or testes • Hormonal Sex: Predominance of androgens or estrogens • Genital Sex: Clitoris and vagina in females; penis and scrotum in males • Gender Identity: One’s subjective sense of being male or female

6. Figure 15.1

7. Figure 15.2

8. Prenatal Sexual Development • Androgen Insensitivity: Inherited disorder; male embryos fail to develop male genitals because of an unresponsiveness to testosterone • Intersexual Person: One who has dual or ambiguous genital sexuality; having genitals that suggest both sexes

9. Prenatal Sexual Development (cont.) • Androgenital Syndrome: Genetic abnormality; adrenals produce excess androgens, sometimes creating a female child with male genitals • Biological Biasing Effect: Exposure to prenatal androgens and estrogens may influence the body, nervous system, and later behavior patterns

10. Figure 15.3

11. Gender Roles • Sometimes known as sex roles; favored pattern of behavior for males and females • E.g. girls are expected to be sensitive and boys dominant • Gender Role Stereotypes: Oversimplified beliefs (stereotypes) about what men and women are really like • Gender roles appear to be learned

12. Behaviors • Instrumental Behaviors: Goal-directed behaviors • Expressive Behaviors: Expresses or communicates emotion or personal feelings

13. Figure 15.4

14. Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) and Androgyny • BSRI: Created by Sandra Bem • Consists of 60 personal traits, 20 each for “masculine,” “feminine,” and “neutral” • Androgyny: Having both masculine and feminine traits in a single person • Androgynous individuals are more adaptable in our society (Bem) • Rigid gender stereotypes can restrict behavior, especially males’ (Bem)

15. Figure 15.6

16. Sexual Behavior and Arousal • Erogenous Zones: Areas of the body that produce pleasure and/or provoke erotic desires (genitals, breasts, etc.) • Sexual Scripts: Unspoken mental plans that guide our sexual behavior • Sex Drive: Strength of one’s motivation to engage in sexual behavior • Alcohol does NOT stimulate the sex drive

17. Sexual Behavior (cont.) • Castration: Surgical removal of the testes or ovaries • Sterilization: Surgery (vasectomy or tubal ligation) to make a man or woman infertile • Masturbation: Self-stimulation of the genitals that causes sexual pleasure or orgasm

18. Figure 15.7

19. Figure 15.8

20. Figure 15.9

21. Sexual Orientation • Degree of emotional and erotic attraction to members of the same sex, opposite sex or both sexes • Heterosexual: Romantically and erotically attracted to the opposite sex • Bisexual: Romantically and erotically attracted to both sexes

22. Homosexuality • Homosexual: Romantically and erotically attracted to the same sex • Homophobia: Fear of homosexuality; prejudice, fear, and dislike directed at homosexuals, both male and female

23. Human Sexual Response: Masters and Johnson’s Discoveries • Sexual response can be divided into four phases • Phases are the same for all people regardless of sexual orientation

24. Excitement • Initial signs of sexual arousal

25. Plateau • Physical arousal intensifies

26. Orgasm • Climax and release of sexual tension

27. Resolution • Return to lower levels of sexual tension and arousal

28. The Male Sexual Response • Ejaculation: Release of sperm and seminal fluid (semen) by the male at orgasm • Refractory Period: Short time period after orgasm when males are unable to again ejaculate and/or orgasm

29. Atypical Sexual Behavior • Paraphilias: Sexual deviations; tend to be compulsive or destructive deviations in sexual preferences or behaviors

30. Some Paraphilias • Pedophilia: Sex with children; child molesting • Sexual Sadism: Deriving sexual pleasure from inflicting pain • Sexual Masochism: Deriving sexual pleasure from receiving pain • Frotteurism: Sexually touching or rubbing against a nonconsenting person, usually in a public place like an elevator or subway • Exhibitionism: “Flashing” genitals to unwilling viewers

31. Some Signs of Child Molestation • The child fears being seen nude when such fears were previously absent • The child develops physical complaints such as headaches and stomach aches (stress symptoms) • The child becomes markedly emotional and irritable • The child displays anxiety or shame when any reference to sexual behavior is made

32. Some More Signs of Child Molestation • The child engages in dangerous risk-taking behavior, such as jumping from high places • The child reveals self-destructive or suicidal thoughts, or self-blame • The child shows a loss of self-esteem or self-worth

33. Tactics of Child Molesters • Most act alone • Most assaults take place in the abuser’s home • Many abusers gain access to the child through caretaking

34. More Tactics of Child Molesters • Children are targeted at first through bribes, gifts, and games • The abuser tries to lure the child via touch, talking about sex, and persuasion (Can also take place via email or though chat rooms) • The abuser then uses force, anger, threats, and bribes to gain continued compliance

35. Attitudes and the Crime of Rape • Double Standard: Applying different rules for judging the appropriateness of male and female sexual behaviors • Acquaintance (Date) Rape: Forced intercourse that occurs in the context of a date or other voluntary encounter

36. Rape Myths • A woman who appears alone in public and dresses attractively is “asking for it” • When a woman says “No” she really means “Yes” • Many women who are raped actually enjoy it • If a woman goes home with a man on a first date she is interested in sex • If a woman is sexually active, she is probably lying is she says she was raped

37. Forcible Rape • Sexual intercourse that is carried out against the victim’s will, usually under the threat of bodily violence • Rape is a crime of violence, brutality, and aggression • Men can also be subjected to rape

38. Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD’s) • A disease that is passed from one person to another by intimate physical contact; a venereal disease • Asymptomatic: Having a disease while lacking obvious symptoms. • Makes the disease harder to detect

39. HIV and AIDS • Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): Sexually transmitted virus that disables the immune system • Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS): Caused by HIV and frequently fatal; the immune system is weakened, allowing other diseases and infections to invade the body • White blood cell count is often lowered dangerously

40. STD: Risky Behaviors • Sharing drug needles and syringes • Anal sex, with or without a condom • Unprotected sex (without a condom) with an infected partner

41. More Risky Sexual Behaviors • Sex with someone you know, or do not know, who has several partners • Vaginal or oral sex with an intravenous drug user • Having many sex partners

42. Safer Sex Practices • Not having sex • Not injecting drugs • Using a condom • Sex with one mutually faithful, uninfected partner • Not engaging in sex while intoxicated • Reducing the number of sex partners

43. Table 15.2

44. Sexual Desire and Arousal Disorders • Hypoactive Sexual Desire: Persistent and upsetting loss of sexual desire. • Both aspects must be present • Sexual Aversion: Feelings of fear, anxiety, or disgust about engaging in sex

45. Erectile Disorder • Inability to maintain an erection for lovemaking and intercourse; once known as impotence, also known as erectile dysfunction • Psychogenic: Having psychological and not physical causes

46. Treatment Methods • Sensate Focus: Type of therapy that directs attention to natural sensations of pleasure and also builds communication skills • Viagra: Works for 70-80% of men with Erectile Disorder

47. Orgasmic Disorders • Female Orgasmic Disorder: Persistent inability to reach orgasm during lovemaking • The woman may reach orgasm during masturbation, however • Premature Ejaculation: Ejaculation that persistently occurs before the male and his partner want it to occur • Squeeze Technique: Method for inhibiting ejaculation by compressing the tip of the penis

48. Sexual Pain Disorders • Dyspareunia: Genital pain before, during and after intercourse. • Rare in males • Vaginismus: Muscle spasms of the vagina making penetration by the penis difficult, painful, or impossible

49. Sexual Satisfaction (McCarthy, 1995) • Elementsnecessary for a continuing healthy sexual relationship • Sexual anticipation • Valuing one’s sexuality • Feeling that you deserve sexual pleasure • Valuing intimacy

50. Ways to Avoid Intimacy (Strong & DeVault, 1994) • Don’t talk about anything meaningful • Never show your feelings • Pretend everything is okay, even if you are upset or dissatisfied • Always win, never compromise • Always keep busy